Arts From Our Parks offers combination of art and nature

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Arts From Our Parks offered those attending the event Saturday a special hands-on project to be a part of.

Liz Bush, manager of Buckley’s Mountainside Canoes, 4700 W. Remus Road, donated a canoe for people to paint and put their handprint on.

Once finished, the canoe will be displayed inside Buckley’s.

“Buckley’s is a strong supporter of all kinds of cultural activities that happen in Mount Pleasant,” Bush said. “The handprints demonstrate that the community is connected to the river and depends on the river for not only recreation, but for the quality of life we have in our community.”

More than 100 people attended the fourth annual Arts From Our Parks in Deerfield Nature Park, 2425 W. Remus Road, to support the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, 6801 W. Airline Road, Weidman, and Art Reach of Mid Michigan, 111 E. Broadway St.

Sue Kopmeyer, director of Isabella Parks, and artist Rick Stevens started the event four years ago as a collaboration of their love of nature and art.

“The event offers an afternoon of art and nature-type events for the community,” Kopmeyer said. “We also provide chili for a small donation that goes back to this event.”

This year’s events included performances by Off Broadway Performing Arts Studio, 118 S. Washington St., acoustic music by Bob Bush, readings by Central Michigan University poets and an interpretive trail hike.

Carol Segrist, Saugatuck resident, was in the area to visit her grandkids and ended up at the park event.

“My favorite part is seeing all the kids’ faces,” Segrist said.

Different tables were also set up by the Chippewa Watershed Conservatory, Isabella Conservation District and CMU senior Deirdra Cowen.

“My booth is called ‘Natural Star,’ where we have leaves that kids can make things with, a photographer and face painting,” the Mount Pleasant resident said. “I have attended the event before and this past summer I was an intern for the parks.”

Other arts and craft tables were set up by Art Reach of Mid Michigan, 111 E. Broadway St., which donated art supplies for painting blank canvases, rocks and ash bats, as well as making looms and fiber arts.

“Art Reach has been going on for about 40 years, but this is my first year volunteering at Arts From Our Parks,” said Kari Chrenka, Program Coordinator for Art Reach. “My favorite part has been seeing all the different art forms.”